The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-16
GOOD MANNERS.

Tho Fundamental Principle Of 0snuAnOl
Courtesy II the Equality Of NankinA. s
Books on etiquette are staple literary
wares. Just at present there seems ~
be more than the usual demand for then,
and some recently published treatisss on
manners are having great run. This ~
good thing, for It is moral and civil
izing process for people to give thought.
full consideration to their dues to thslf
fellow-beings. II the study docs ~
more than to teach them not to perforn
knife-swallowing tricks at the ta1ls,
1t will be beneficial. There Is, how
ever, danger that in learning rules Of
conduct without understanding their
underlying philosophy slavish pedantry
may be the result, or even that worst
form of snobbery which consists In hav-
ing "lady" and gentleman" on the brain.
Courtesy is simply the due recogni-
tion of the fact that there are other
people in the world besides ourselves.
A Complementary truth, perception o1
which Is needful to the maintenance oks
individuality, is that every ONE has -
right to do anything one pleases thats
does not interfere with rights or Cor
forts of others. The code Of forms vi
which courtesy is expressed varies fro!
age to age and among different peoplee{
Its attainment is not difficult; the orils
nary phrases Of civility are the common
currency of society and no one can afford
to be ignorant Of them. The excuses
often made for persons Of rude manne16
that after all they are good ct heart ienf
very weak extenuation of their Oiiensof;
for people do not come In contact With
one snother's hearts, but with their man.H
ners. In fact, for most Of the occasioao
of life, it is more important for the eens'
eral welfare that peoples man.
ners should be good than theeE,
hearts. Hence 1t IL that the habituot
propriety of conduct which 10 designaxG
by the phrase good breeding" d bet&
ter accommodation to Companies
ship than the possession of some lof1E
virtues. Politeness is a duty that need1'
to be practiced like other duties noel
until it becomes spontaneous and instjne-;
tive does 1t acquire its Characteristic
charm, which has the power to conceal
and atone for many defects. Emers04s
says: manners form at last rich VAR
nish, with which the routine of LIE ~
washed, and it's details adorned"
While goodness Of heart cannot Co.,
pensate in social intercourse for lack a.
manners, 1t Is equally true that really.
good manners cannot subsist unless their
come from the heart. The humility ~!
spirit which alone can quench the sf1o.'
gance of self is the fruit of profound
conviction of the fundamental equal
ity Of mankind. Fortunate circuu
stances or happy adjustments of capNeet
to the conditions governing the world ~
business or politics, enable some men ~
become rich or famous while others -!
poor and obscure. 1t occasionally -
pens that the lucky ones have ~
the sense to give God the glory, -
disgrace themselves by their p0mpol
airs and ridiculous self-conceit. IL
rich privilege of being enabled to pol&
take of the treasures OF wisdom stored e
our higher educational institutions sou1s
times results in turning out upon societ4
broods of foolish young ducfn'
who, splashing about in tho puddle ck
their own self-conceit, imagine theC
selves sailing upon the ocean Of lil
Social relations, being based upon ~
natural right of everyone to choose on9o
own company, are full of exclusions. IN
envy which these cngender ID a. foo1ldH
and wicked as the pride which. IT,
nourish. Excluding from cOnsideyatj1
the things that are transitory and o061
ventional, the fact is obvious that ~
only test of worth is the way one do6G
ones duty In the sphere allotted "
Providence. Unless this truth regulati6
behavior, the vital principle Of GooI
manners will be lacking.